A hundred years ago, millions of gorillas and other apes lived peacefully in Africa’s forests, but today just a few thousand remain. Threats to their survival are grave; their habitat is logged and mined for its natural resource, their vital forest eco-system is overused, degraded and suffering from the effects of climate change. And, perhaps most shockingly, these incredible animals are shot and snared for bushmeat or poached for the illegal wildlife trade.
Now, more than ever, our great ape cousins need Guardians.
Every year, gorillas and chimpanzees are hunted and illegally slaughtered for meat, considered a delicacy by the wealthy elite. Entire populations decimated. Families torn apart, leaving orphans alone, confused, and dangerously vulnerable.
YOUR gift today will support Born Free’s new Guardians of Dja initiative, investing in coexistence between humans and wildlife, helping to protect gorillas, chimpanzees and other vulnerable species in Cameroon’s vast Dja Biosphere Reserve.*
The ground-breaking ‘Guardians of Dja’ project will recruit a team of Great Ape Guardians to protect endangered great apes in southeast Cameroon. These specially trained individuals will work together to protect the remaining 1,258 western lowland gorillas living in this part of the rainforest in the Congo basin, as well as chimpanzees, forest elephants, pangolins and the many more species found there.
The Dja initiative will also invest in the Cameroonian community, supporting sustainable agro-forestry as an alternative income to bushmeat, and creating education around human-wildlife interactions and the rainforest ecosystem
Apes need a Guardian – will YOU help save them?
"Born Free has always been passionate about great apes. And now we really are taking it another level by making an unprecedented investment in a vital, new conservation project, Guardians of Dja, protecting the forests, and endangered great apes of Cameroon."
"Our great ape cousins are, literally, on the edge. We have a plan. We know what needs to be done. We must give them hope. Will you help us?"
~ Will Travers OBE
* Where donations exceed the target, or after the appeal has closed, they will support our vital work to help apes and other wildlife worldwide.
Images (c) Fred R, georgelogan.co.uk
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